TBN founder Paul Crouch hospitalized

Paul Crouch, founder and president of the Trinity Broadcasting Network, has been hospitalized near Dallas after experiencing shortness of breath.

He was taken to the hospital Oct. 22 and was stable as of Wednesday, according to a TBN spokesman.

Over the past decade, Crouch has been treated for a chronic heart condition and last year he received a pacemaker, according to a news release.

"Everyone associated with TBN, and especially Jan and the Crouch family, want to express their deep and sincere appreciation for the countless prayers and expressions of support and encouragement offered by TBN's many friends and partners all over the world," the news release stated.

TBN, based in Costa Mesa but with locations across the U.S., touts itself as the world's largest Christian television network. It is carried by more than 5,000 stations.